We offer several educational programs for families and individuals facing Alzheimer’s, as well as community members. Most of these programs are free of charge to family caregivers.

Family caregiver series

The Inland Northwest Chapter offers several two-hour workshops throughout the year for family caregivers and friends of people experiencing memory loss, Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. For a fee, certificates of attendance are available for professional caregivers needing continuing-education credit. Programs are repeated during the year at various locations throughout our 26-county region. See the Calendar for upcoming programs and locations.

Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters: Learn the difference between age-related memory loss and Alzheimer's disease and what to do if you or someone you know has signs of the disease.

The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: An overview of dementia, including information on detection, causes and risk factors, stages of the disease, and treatment.

Conversations About Dementia: Tips to Help with Family Conversations: This workshop offers tips on how to have honest and caring conversations with family members about going to the doctor, deciding when to stop driving and making legal and financial plans.

Living with Alzheimer's: For People with Alzheimer's

Living with Alzheimer's: For Younger-Onset Alzheimer's

Living with Alzheimer's: For Caregivers -- Early-Stage: This half-day workshop will cover an array of topics of interest to families coping with the early stage of Alzheimer’s Disease including: communication, care and treatment options, safety issues, and maximizing independence.

Living with Alzheimer's: For Caregivers -- Middle-Stage: This second in a series of Caregiving seminars covers topics pertaining to the middle stage of Alzheimer’s Disease including nutrition, communication, personal care, behavioral challenges, wandering, and the array of care options.

Living with Alzheimer's: For Caregivers -- Late-Stage: Topics include symptoms of late stage, changes in your role, communication changes, working with doctors, monitoring care, and end-of-life issues.

Legal and Financial Planning for Alzheimer's Disease: Learn about the importance of advance planning and the steps to putting legal, financial and future care plans in place.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers

Powerful Tools for Caregivers provides a practical approach to dealing with caregiver stress, prioritization, challenging family communication and planning. In the six weekly classes, caregivers develop a wealth of self-care tools to: reduce personal stress; change negative self-talk; communicate their needs to family members and healthcare or service providers; communicate more effectively in challenging situations; recognize the messages in their emotions, deal with difficult feelings; and make tough caregiving decisions. Class participants also receive a copy of The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class. The next class begins March 26, 2015, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. For more information phone 208.666.2996.